Urgent Protest Against Planned Cuts to Theatre Lists

30/09/2024

To: Manx Care Board

Dear Members of the Manx Care Board,

Subject: Urgent Protest Against Planned Cuts to Theatre Lists

We, the IOMMS, write to express our profound concern and strong opposition to the proposed reduction in elective surgery theatre lists as announced by Manx Care. While we understand the financial pressures facing our healthcare system, we believe that these cuts will have severe and far-reaching consequences for patient care and the overall health of our community.

The decision to reduce elective surgeries in an apparent misguided effort to save £220,000 is short-sighted and fails to consider the long-term implications for patient outcomes. Elective surgeries are not merely optional procedures; they are essential interventions that significantly improve the quality of life for our patients. Delaying or cancelling these surgeries will lead to prolonged suffering, increased morbidity, and potentially life and limb-threatening complications for those awaiting treatment and contrary to the Minister for DHSC’s assertion that cancer procedures will not be affected, they will be, according to senior colleagues. Reducing elective surgery is not a cost saving but a deferred cost which in time will likely be higher, because morbidity increases with time and so surgery becomes more challenging, adding to cost inflation and may form justification for further outsourcing to for-profit companies such as Synaptik. This will also increase demand on primary care appointments as patients seek treatment for symptoms while waiting for the surgery, thus exacerbating the existing issues in access to General Practitioner appointments.

Furthermore, the reduction in theatre lists will exacerbate the already significant backlog of elective surgeries, placing additional strain on our healthcare system. This backlog not only affects patients directly but also impacts the efficiency, skillsmaintenance and morale of our medical staff, who are committed to providing the highest standard of care. This decision appears to have been taken with no clinical input and in the case of several of our members, will constitute unilateral changes to their job plans and therefore their contracts. Whereas savings are proposed to be made because of cancelling bank or agency staff (for example Anaesthetists, ODP, nurses) then the focus really needs to be on retaining and recruiting staff to eliminate vacant posts by more meaningful engagement with staff representatives.

We urge the Manx Care Board to reconsider this decision and explore alternative cost-saving measures that do not compromise patient care such as the ones we have proposed here: https://www.iomms.org/recovery-reform-proposals-for-manxcaredhsc . Investing in preventive measures, streamlining administrative processes, and seeking additional funding sources (such as from reopening private patients’ unit) are potential avenues that could be pursued without jeopardising the health and well-being of our patients.

We continue to stand ready to collaborate with Manx Care to find sustainable solutions that address the financial challenges while maintaining the integrity of our healthcare services. Let us not forget that our primary duty of care is to our patients, and we believe that together, we can find a way to uphold this commitment without resorting to detrimental cuts.

Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. We look forward to your prompt 

response and are available for further discussions at your earliest convenience.

Yours sincerely,

IOMMS

Cc: Minister for Health and Social Care

Chief Minister